South Carolina Football Fans Need Not Worry, Gamecocks Will Be OK

After horrible losses to Florida, Clemson, and Iowa to end the season, South Carolina football fans are up in arms. 

How can a team with one of the greatest college coaches of all time, four years of top 25 recruiting classes, and some of the most rabid fans you will find breed such a small amount of success?

Fans, take note. We have had some marginal success under Steve Spurrier. He has won eight, seven, six, and seven games in his four seasons.

Take a look at Carolina's history. NO coach has had that type of sustained winning.  Steve Spurrier is the first South Carolina coach since 1902 that has more wins every season then losses or ties.

Steve Spurrier has given us the recruiting classes that we have only dreamt of before Lou Holtz. 

Spurrier has made strides to improve our facilities more then any other coach in Gamecock football history.

The list goes on and on, and before you crown my as a Spurrier lemming, hear me out...

Steve Spurrier WILL NOT bring South Carolina the glory of an SEC or even a national championship.

But he will take them to the brink.

Just far enough for a young and hungry coach to grab up the program and motivate the team to  be championship contenders. 

Take a look at the projected USC starting lineup for next season:

Offense

QB Stephen Garcia

FB Patrick DiMarco

TB Jarvis Giles

WR Jason Barnes

WR Joe Hills

TE Weslye Saunders

LT Jarriel King

LG Lemuel Jeanpierre

C Garrett Anderson

RG Terrence Campbell

RT Hutch Eckerson

K Adam Yates

Defense

DE Clifton Geathers

DT Ladi Ajiboye

DT Nathan Pepper

DE Cliff Matthews

LB Reggie Bowens

LB Rodney Paulk

SPUR Darian Stewart

CB Addison Williams

CB Akeem Auguste

SS Antonio Allen

FS Chris Culliver

P Spencer Lanning

There is young talent all across the board. That does not look like a four- or five-win roster. It looks like a team that could get six to seven next season, and then seven to eight the next. If the team gets a few solid bounces, you could be looking at being VERY competitive in the SEC East in 2010.

Coming off an eight-win season in 2010, Spurrier would likely step down and hand the reigns over to a new coach, who could then lead this team to a whole new level of success.  

My plea to all of Gamecock Nation...do NOT judge Spurrier for the lack of effort and selfish play the 2008 team displayed at the end of the year. Spurrier did not make players decide that they cared more about the NFL then South Carolina.

Spurrier did not fail to pass the six collegiate credit hours it takes to be a member of a football team.

Spurrier has worked tirelessly to create an atmosphere of winning...South Carolina expects to field a winning team ever year. Think back before Spurrier. Can you remember a time when this occurred?

Fans, do not run Spurrier off. Respect what he has done for the program, and let him work. Show future coaching hires that the fans respect and back the coaches, for better or for worse. 

There is hope on the horizon.